The Best Abdominal Exercises
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(No equipment needed)
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Bicycle maneuver Lie flat with your lower back pressed to the floor. Put your hands behind your head. Bring knees up to about 45- degree angle and slowly go through a bicycle pedal motion. Touch your left elbow to your right knee, then your right elbow to your left knee.
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Vertical Leg Crunch Lie flat with your lower back pressed to the floor. Put your hands behind your head for support. Extend your legs straight up in the air, crossed at the ankles with a slight bend in the knee. Contract your abdominal muscles by lifting your torso toward your knees. Make sure to keep your chin off your chest with each contraction. Exhale as you contract upward; inhale as you return to the starting position.
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Reverse Crunch Lie flat with your lower back pressed to the floor. Put your hands beside your head or extend them out flat to your sides —whatever feels most comfortable. Crossing your feet at the ankles, lift your feet off the ground to the point where your knees create a 90-degree angle. Once in this position, press your lower back on the floor as you contract your abdominal muscles. Your hips will slightly rotate and your legs will reach towards the ceiling with each contraction. Exhale as you contract; inhale as you return to the starting position. (Pictures courtesy of Ace)
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Everybody wants to have a flat stomach. Who doesn't? A flat stomach is not only
good for health reasons, it also makes you feel like a million dollars and makes
you look good.
Strong abs help with good posture,
alleviate lower back pain and are
essential for long-term health and
well being. Definitely, it's worth the
effort to get rid of that bulging tummy.
What are the most effective
exercises for getting a flat stomach?
To answer that question, a team of
researchers from San Diego
University studied 13 of the most
common abdominal exercises.
They recruited 30 healthy men and
women aged between 20 and 45,
ranging from occasional exercisers
to those who worked out daily.
The participants were put through a
battery of exercises, including the
traditional crunch, modified
crunches, partial body weight
exercises and exercises using both
home and gym equipment.
All of the exercises targeted the
midsection and were introduced in
random order. The muscle activity of
each participant was closely
monitored by the researchers as
they exercised.
After extensive collection and
analysis of data, this is what the
researchers found.
The exercises which had generated
the most muscle activity in the
obliques through constant
abdominal stabilization, as well as
body rotation, were found to be the
best for strengthening and trimming
the abdominals and achieving a flat
stomach.
Topping the list is the bicycle
maneuver, followed closely by the
captain's chair.As for home exercise
equipment, crunches on an
exercise ball ranked highest,
coming in third overall.
The Traditional Crunch, in which
one curls up and forward lifting the
head, neck and shoulder blades
while lying on one's back with knees
bent flat on the floor, came in a
disappointing 11th.
The study found that many of the
exercises proved relatively effective
at working the abdominal muscles -
some were just more effective than
the others.
No matter which exercises you
choose for getting a flat stomach,
the important thing is to train and
strengthen your abdominal muscles.
(Note: If you're a beginner or have a medical problem, please consult your doctor before
starting any exercise program.)
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